Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.
Chloris Lewis
The idea behind my business was really rooted in both passion and purpose. Over 30 years ago, I began shadowing a wedding designer and florist, and I was instantly drawn in. Watching her bring spaces to life with flowers, color, and creativity sparked something in me—I didn’t have the words for it then, but I knew I loved the art of celebration. Read more>>
Anthony DuBose
Sometimes, life doesn’t give you the opportunities you’d like. But, when you’re a creative, you make your own, then, expand them as your world grows. So for ASCEND Entertainment Productions in current day, it’s morphed into something I never expected. From just a name to an entity that, if shaped correctly, can help the connection of infrastructure between communities, creativity, all while providing fun & entertaining experiences with music as a big part of the driving force! Read more>>
Julia Cuddy
I didn’t sit down and write a business plan that included boudoir. The idea didn’t come from strategy, it came from trust. In December 2020, a few of my past and future brides threw me into a group text and asked me something unexpected: “Would you take some nudes of us?” They were planning a girls’ weekend at an Airbnb in Detroit and didn’t know who else to ask. They trusted me. And I was honest, I said, “I don’t know if I’ll be good at it… but I’ll try.” Truly taking a chance was all I needed to have everything change. That weekend, I watched five women hype each other up, try on lingerie together, pour drinks, laugh, and celebrate each other in ways I had never really seen growing up. I’d never been part of that kind of girl gang energy before. Being welcomed into it as their photographer (and in many ways, as one of them) was emotional, affirming, and unforgettable.I left that day completely lit up. I knew: I wanted more of this. More of that confidence, that softness, that sisterhood. Read more>>
Pardis Bakhtiari
The idea for my creative practice grew out of my personal journey as an artist-scholar navigating life between cultures. After moving from Iran to the U.S. for my Ph.D., I used art not only to process displacement but also to connect with others, especially in educational and community spaces. Read more>>
Kiesha Dunn
The idea for my creative services business was born out of both pain and purpose. I was in a season of life where I had poured so much into others—my kids, my relationship, my work—but had very little left for myself. I knew what burnout felt like. I knew what it felt like to smile on the outside but feel invisible, tired, and unsure of my worth on the inside. But I also knew I wasn’t alone in that. Read more>>
Scott Tarpley
I started getting the idea of working with dogs when I was a swat man in New York. When we were attached to the SWAT team, there was always a dog available and I quickly fell in love with the training and control that they had over this very unique animal. They could do anything they could track or hunt by people and even find narcotics or explosives. Once I got in good with the K9 guys, I knew it could be a lucrative business opportunity to have in what I call my retirement years. So after I was able to retire from service, that’s exactly what I did. Read more>>
Julia Evans
I’ve always been a people person. I love making folks smile, hearing their stories, and finding ways to show up for them—even in small, beautiful ways. Flowers became that “small thing” for me that made a big impact. I’d arrange bouquets just because I wanted someone to feel special or seen. No holiday, no big event—just love. That turned into a pattern, and over time, I realized… maybe this wasn’t just a hobby. Maybe this was ministry in motion. Read more>>
PeopleKit
PeopleKit was born out of the need to make workforce insights, commonly known as People Analytics, more accessible to more workers and organizations – enabling leaders, managers, and employees to make more informed decisions about their work. Read more>>
Nicole Fevrier Davis
Hello I am Nicole Fevrier Davis author of this course. I am a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer, Behavior Specialist, Lifetime Metabolic Technician, Minister, and Healer. I had worked with two well-known metabolic doctors, Dr. Packard of The Packard Weight Health Plan and Dr. Bryan Walsh best known for his expertise in biochemistry, human physiology, and metabolic conditions. And after 34 years of working in the fitness, health, and weight loss industries I had come up against a professional “wall” so to speak. Read more>>
Kristal Baith
I have always been in healthcare and in leadership. I took a cruise a few years ago and really enjoyed getting that down time . I have always loved fashion and decided I wanted to give opening up an online boutique a try ! I put my plan into motion and a year later the online boutique evolved into a store front with my friend and fellow boutique owner Rebecca with Sparrow & Hue. Read more>>
Lindsay Johnson
Well… to begin Maple Hub was truly never a business idea in the sense of seeing it going as far as it has – it was a feeling. I am all about gut instinct and intuition. Read more>>
Henry Elmore
I was a store manager for a large grocery chain in the southeast. In doing my P and L weekly. In reconciling I found a huge increase in my service fees. I watched it increase weekly for 5 weeks and finally reported all my findings to the Accounting department. In summation I saved the company Millions and was still overlooked for promotion! I made a plan for retirement and then said I wouldn’t work for anyone again! I began to research the merchant service industry and chose to start my own. 6 years later it’s the foundation of my 3 businesses. Read more>>
Tova Feinberg
Food is magic. It’s the warm smell of grandma’s kitchen that takes you back to childhood. It’s the nervous excitement of cooking dinner for someone special. It’s the laughter around a family table and the quiet joy of a perfect meal. Food brings us together, creates our most precious memories, and shapes our health and happiness. But somewhere along the way, we lost this beautiful connection to our food. Read more>>
Sandra Northrup
Twenty-one years ago, I made the decision to resign from my job in the aviation industry to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. That chapter of my life was incredibly busy, deeply rewarding, and full of excitement. I homeschooled my children and spent years cheering them on at countless sports competitions, performances, and recitals. It was a beautiful season, and I poured my heart into raising my family. Read more>>
Alyssa Hariprashad
My path to becoming a pelvic floor physical therapist began with a love for anatomy and teaching, sparked by encouragement from my mom and a high school teacher. I earned my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo and went on to receive my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the New York Institute of Technology. During PT school, a professor introduced me to the pelvic floor specialty—a field I’d never heard of before—and I quickly became passionate about its unique role in supporting bladder, bowel, and reproductive health. Read more>>
Teri Caserta
The idea for The Brandon Caserta Foundation wasn’t born in a boardroom or brainstorm—it came from the deepest pain a parent can endure. On June 25, 2018, our only child
, Brandon, died by suicide while serving in the U.S. Navy. He was trapped in a toxic command climate, crying out for help, and denied the support he so desperately needed. His final letter made it clear: he didn’t want to die—he just couldn’t survive the environment any longer. Read more>>
Teriana Jacobs
When I first came up with the brand name “Natural Built Bodies” it was to inspire more people to build muscle and take care of your body the natural way. I grew my brand from the ground up from there with workout bands, sweaters, hats, then moving on to an entire fitness line with tops, bottoms, sports bras and more! It wasn’t easy and there were many times I struggled and did it all alone sending hundreds of orders to the post office by myself, but I believe that is what makes us stronger, there is no success story without the struggle. Read more>>
Brian Wallace
My journey to founding NowSourcing, my content marketing agency focused on long infographics and visual storytelling, PR, and SEO, was anything but linear. It began during a transitional period in my life around 2006 when I was working in tech. I had spent nearly a decade in the tech industry where creativity was often stifled and innovation moved at a glacial pace. Read more>>
Kizzy Alleyne
The idea for My Skin Glows was born out of a deeply personal journey that blended necessity, passion, and heritage. As a Caribbean woman, I’ve always been surrounded by rich traditions of natural self-care, passed down through generations. Growing up, I watched the women in my family use ingredients straight from the earth—ginger, hibiscus, turmeric, and exotic oils—to care for their skin and for medicinal purposes. These rituals weren’t just about beauty; they were about self-respect, love, and a deep connection to our roots. Read more>>
Janae Cox
Honestly, Clean Monday Meals started from a really personal place. I was diagnosed with celiac disease back in 2014, and then later we found out I also had PCOS. That combo kind of flipped everything upside down when it came to how I ate and what I could put into my body. Suddenly, food wasn’t just food—it was this minefield of hidden ingredients, labels I couldn’t trust, and constantly feeling like I was missing out on the flavors I used to love. Read more>>
Skye Lam
Our founding story is deeply personal. A close friend of ours overdosed on laced drugs. There was no warning, no way for her to know. That moment changed everything and became our call to action to make sure that no one has to experience the preventable loss of a loved one ever again. Read more>>
Laura Salata
My dear friend and business partner Melissa Monoki and our families were spending NYE together. Our families are close and we also have sons the same age. The boys and husbands were watching the Football bowl game and Melissa and I were outside on the lanai enjoying a beautiful Florida evening. Our conversation eventually shifted to our jobs and complaining about our current bosses/jobs, as we had been of late. As it neared midnight, I said we should make a NYE resolution and Melissa immediately agreed. When midnight came, we toasted to “Be The Change”. Read more>>
Shannon Drage
My journey into flowers was not planned, as I never imagined myself as a floral designer. I always loved fashion, and had an eye for design. I was recruited for my first job in a flower shop because of just that, the people around me knew I had an eye to create beautiful things so I gave it a go. I was incredibly lucky that my first job in flowers was for Pat Dahlson owner of Mayesh Wholesale one of the top Luxury flower wholesalers in the country maybe even the wold. I was able to train under is daughter Ali and a mayesh wholesale design star Marcy where I quickly learned the basics and incredible modern design from the very start. Fast forward 8 months and the pandemic hits. Read more>>
Eternal West Editorial
The idea for our meetup group at Eternal West Editorial was sparked by the inspiration we drew from SLC Inspired. Their passion and ability to bring creatives together really motivated us to finally take the leap on something we had been talking about for a while. After attending multiple of their events, we recognized the need for more safe, intentional spaces where creatives could freely share ideas, connect with others, and receive a bit of guidance along the way—that’s where the concept of our styled meetups was born. Read more>>
Brooklyn Sample
My production company, Blind Toe Productions, and our new nonprofit, Art Crush LA, were formed for different reasons but share the same purpose. Our mission is to support and create arts and culture during a time when funding and opportunities are limited. Blind Toe Productions was founded seven years ago, during a time when my partner, Melanie Lee, and I were immersed in motherhood but driven to create content. We were approached with an idea for a docuseries that we knew would be sensational and entertaining, so we got to work developing and pitching it. With interest from another production company, the show was optioned! We were thrilled and felt we had a creative outlet that was manageable from our desks. Read more>>
Denyelle Nelson
The idea for my business was born from a deeply personal place—a mix of pain, passion, and the refusal to stay silent or small any longer. For most of my life, I felt like I had to dim my light. I was told I was “too much”—too loud, too ambitious, too proud, too bold. I never quite felt like I fit the mold of what beauty or confidence was “supposed” to look like. Read more>>
Kayla Rose
At the start of the pandemic, I met my husband online and I shared with him some of my hobbies and interests, noting that I used to paint but said that I didn’t think I would good at it. He latched onto that and encouraged me to pick up the brush again. He encouraged me to look into art history and do some research into artists like Jackson Pollock. I stopped painting for awhile because whatever I was trying to paint never looked the way I intended so I gave up. But with my now husband’s encouragement, I began to grow in other areas creatively and I discovered that I actually am good at creating abstract art. Painting became a good outlet for me during the pandemic. Read more>>
Dr. DeAira Rose
For years, I felt a deep pull inside — like I was meant for more. I had earned multiple degrees, built a career that looked impressive on paper, and ticked all the boxes society told me to check. But despite all of that, I still felt unfulfilled. My corporate job had me on a constant treadmill of burnout, reacting to every demand and feeling like my true potential was sidelined. I was constantly responding to everything that came my way instead of creating the life I knew I was meant to lead. It wasn’t an easy journey. I faced both professional and personal challenges that shook me to my core, but they pushed me to realize I wasn’t living in alignment with who I was truly destined to be. I was caught in a cycle of giving and proving myself, but never feeling fulfilled. I knew I couldn’t keep reacting to life and living at the mercy of a system that didn’t value me. It was time to shift my approach and begin intentionally creating the life I deserve. Read more>>